Ronald Kenneth Ramsay was due to stand trial last week on several charges including manufacturing a commercial quantity of methylamphetamine, or ice in Tamworth – 18 months after his arrest.

But the trial fell over in Tamworth District Court and Ramsay was left without legal representation.

Judge Jeffery McClennan ordered new solicitor Yvonne Phillipos – who took on the case on Friday – to take instructions to determine “whether this matter is going to be a plea of guilty or it will be listed for trial”.

“Two weeks ago he was led to believe he was having a trial start on Monday and that didn’t happen,” he said.

Dressed in prison greens, Ramsay smiled at his wife seated in the back of the court as he was led into the dock by Corrective Services officers on Monday.

Judge McClennan said, with the lists currently, the prospects of Ramsay getting a trial in Tamworth before October or November “were almost none”.

“That will have meant he would have spent two years in custody,” he told the court.

“That is a most undesirable situation.”

Ramsay has been in custody since Oxley police raided his Glenara Ln, Bithramere property on September 8, 2015, seizing a quantity of what is alleged to be ice as well as cutting agents and three firearms.

Judge McClennan said it was “very important that [Ramsay] is fully informed” on the evidence against him.

He said “on the face of things …. it seems to be a very strong case”.

Judge McClennan said the crown case statement included “confessional” material which tended to “point to admissions”,and officers had found a cheque and drugs in a safe that Ramsay “says he’s the only person who has access”.

Ms Phillipos was handed the case last week and told the court she had only just engaged a new barrister.

She said Ramsay had told her he had not gone through the police brief of evidence against him.

“He cannot read and write,” Ms Phillipos told the court.

Judge McClennan granted a brief adjournment with the case set to return to court this week.